Tuesday, March 11, 2025

Prayer vs. Willpower

After working on my tax documents, I turned to my morning meditation and AA's Daily Reflections. The opening quotation for March 11 struck me deeply:

"It is when we try to make our will conform with God’s that we begin to use it rightly. To all of us, this was a most wonderful revelation. Our whole trouble had been the misuse of willpower. We had tried to bombard our problems with it instead of attempting to bring it into agreement with God’s intention for us. To make this increasingly possible is the purpose of A.A.’s Twelve Steps, and Step Three opens the door." — Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 40

I must admit, I do not find much connection between taxes and conforming my will with God. However, I am reminded of Christ’s teaching in Mark 12:17:

“Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.”

Here, Christ distinguishes between the mortal obligations of this world and the higher spiritual calling we must embrace. While we navigate earthly responsibilities, our true strength does not come from sheer determination but from aligning our will with God’s through prayer.

The Power of Prayer Over Willpower

Whatever this mortal world presents to us, it is better to experience it through prayer rather than by force of will. Willpower alone often leads to frustration, while prayer opens the door to divine guidance and peace. Consider these wise words:

“True prayer is neither a mere mental exercise nor a vocal performance. It is far deeper than that—it is a spiritual transaction with the Creator of Heaven and Earth.” — Charles Spurgeon

“God shapes the world by prayer. The more praying there is in the world, the better the world will be, the mightier the forces against evil.” — E.M. Bounds

“Let us always meet each other with a smile, for the smile is the beginning of love. And let us pray for each other that we may be faithful in all our duties.” — Mother Teresa

Even the Apostle Paul emphasizes the power of prayer over anxiety and human effort:

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 4:6-7

A Call to Pray First

The scriptures repeatedly counsel us to pray first, rather than relying solely on our own strength. In 2 Nephi 32:8-9, we are reminded:

“For if ye would hearken unto the Spirit which teacheth a man to pray, ye would know that ye must pray; for the evil spirit teacheth not a man to pray, but teacheth him that he must not pray. But behold, I say unto you that ye must pray always, and not faint; that ye must not perform any thing unto the Lord save in the first place ye shall pray unto the Father in the name of Christ, that he will consecrate thy performance unto thee, that thy performance may be for the welfare of thy soul.”

Our strength is not in resisting difficulties with sheer determination but in humbling ourselves and seeking divine guidance. Through prayer, we align our will with God’s and find the peace that surpasses all understanding.

Conclusion

In both small and significant matters—whether taxes, daily struggles, or major life decisions—prayer should come before action. Instead of relying on willpower alone, let us trust in God’s wisdom and direction. By doing so, we move forward not with frustration but with faith, knowing that His will is always greater than our own.

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